The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1887-05-27
NO. 81.

tumulus still exists intact within four
miles of Charing Cross is sure to he
received with incredulity. 1t will be
pointed out that multitudes of people
must have passed over these grassy
slopes in nineteen centuries; and that
if of British origin the sides must have
become obliterated by wear and tear.
1t will be urged that antiquaries OF
past generations would have rited such
a heap of buried treasures as the grave
of hundreds of British warriors. And
these and the like objections will de-
rive an added force from the local
rumOr, which seems to be well ascer-
tanned, though it does not appear to be
supported by written authority that
this is none other than plague-pit-a
grim relic of the Great Plague. This,
it is said, is the reason the mound has
not only never been opened, but so long
Stunned that its outlines have renamed
as well defined as when it was first
made. Rightly or wrongly, it is still
commonly believed that even an inter-
ment of two hundred years is not
enough to destroy the germs OF the
| Plague. So it is to be feared that the
mystery of the Hampstead tumulus will
still go unexplained.
But even these do not exhaust the
etymologies of Parliament Hill, for it
shares with another eminence in the
! grounds of the Baroness Burdett-Coutts
/ the doubtful honor of having been the
Traitors Hill" OF the two, however,
Parliament Hill seems to have the bet
/ L.. IL Oft III bTsfp
to the associations of the spot with Guy
Faux and his friends, which we have
already shown to rest upon only the
scantiest foundation. But another
curious derivation has been unearthed.
In 1861, Thomas Venner, wine cooper,
headed an insurrection against King
Charles. The episode has long been
forgotten, and can scarcely be found
in any of the more accessible histories;
but it is none the less historical After
killing one or two persons, Venner, at
the head of insignificant rabble, took
up his quarters in Caen Wood, and
thence threatened London for three or
, four days. It says much for the nerv-
BUSINESS Of the age that the metropolis
should have been reduced to a state OF
panic by a handful of silly bigots. Yet
that this was the case sufficiently APP
pears from the State Papers of the
) time. The number of the insurgents
| was absurdly exaggerated, and the
) widest rumors were afloat as to the
: crowds that were flocking to the rebel
> standard. Short-lived as the rising
l was, it lasted long enough to fasten it
: self upOn the popular imagination. II
g had tragic ending. Venner and his
Y crew no sooner ventured into London,
e than they were Overpowered; while, a
f few days later, Venner and Hodgkins,
e another ringleader, were hanged
|, drawn, and quartered. And although
: these traitors met with such speedy
e and condign punishment, which shows
q that the authorities of the time under
s stood the art of suppressing rebellion
e much better than we do, it is quit
: possible that they gave their names t.
l. both the Traitors Hills of Hampstead
t. But however this may be, we have
l. shown that these spots have many
d sided interest apart from their pic
d turesque surroundings. Whether it b.
- plague-pit-which does not soun'
N salubrious-or a ver.itable British bar
al row that crowns this hilltop, may b
it doubtful; but few probably will dis
le pute the claims of the Hill and its fel
~ lows to be preserved Chambers JON
Nv 77nL